COMMEMORATION ODE. The (Ode Recited at the Harvard Commemoration' was delivered by James Russell Lowell, 21 July 1865, at the laying of the cornerstone of Memorial Hall, Harvard, and the exercises in honor of the sons of the college who had died in the war for the Union. The choice of a poet for the occasion was a fitting one, for Lowell was a devoted Harvard man, and had suffered serious personal bereavements as a result of the war. In its present form the 'Ode' con sists of 12 strophes, but the sixth strophe, on Lincoln, was written after the rest of the poem had been delivered. It sustains a high tone throughout, though there is a certain uneven ness which may in part be accounted for by the author's habits of work. While by no means intellectually indolent Lowell was ac customed to postpone the task of actual com position as long as possible, and he was never very successful in revision. In this case he
did not begin to write until within 48 hours before the poem was to be delivered, and, except for the addition of the strophe referred to, later changes were not important. From its nature the (Ode' could show none of the rollicking humor of the 'Fable for Critics' and none of the clever satire of the 'Biglow Papers,' and it lacks something of the youthful energy and enthusiasm that accompanies the idealism . of the 'Present Crisis' and the 'Vision of Sir Launfal.' But if it. does not show these distinctive characteristics of the author, it is the best expression of Lowell, the dignified scholar and patriot, and as such some of his admirers have ranked it as his best work. Among the finer passage.s are the tribute to Lincoln, and the third strophe, beguming *Many loved Truth?